A Manchester company has been hit with a fine of almost £50,000 after a tonne of stone floor tiles fell from a forklift, killing an employee.

Soran Aziz died after the incident in October 2010 at Stone Superstore Ltd’s Gorton warehouse.

The 27-year-old suffered serious head injuries and died in hospital two days later.

Environmental Health officers visited the Matthew's Street site and found that the forklift truck driver who dropped the tiles had not received formal training, despite it being required by the Health and Safety Executive’s code of practice.

Manchester Crown Court also heard that although two forklift trucks were used daily at the warehouse, none of the company’s employees had received any formal training.

Stone Superstore bosses pleaded guilty to two counts - one of failing to adequately train, supervise and instruct staff and a further charge of failing to carry out a suitable and sufficient risk assessment.

The fine of £40,000 was awarded for the first count, with no separate penalty being given for the second.

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Manchester’s council executive member for neighbourhoods, Coun Nigel Murphy, said: “This heartbreaking case saw a young man lose his life and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.

“Health and safety regulations are often sneered at but they exist for good reason – to prevent avoidable tragedies like this one.

“This case should serve as a warning, companies that do not adhere to health and safety regulations are needlessly putting people at risk and we will vigorously pursue them for their dangerous behaviour.

The M.E.N. has attempted to contact bosses at Stone Superstore for comment.